“We are excited! This is the first for time we've offered a children's ministry tour for our churches!” says Diane Smith, children's ministry strategist with Virginia Baptist Mission Board. “We're headed north to Minneapolis, Minnesota.”
“We're planning a variety of experiences for persons who are responsible for designing and casting a vision for children's ministry in their congregations.”
The tour arrives in Minneapolis Thursday, Oct. 12.
On Friday, Oct. 13, the tour spends the morning at Faith Incubators in Stillwater, Minn. Faith Incubators produces resources called “GIFT — Generations in Faith Together.”
Friday afternoon participants meet with Eugene Roehlkepartain at Search Institute to learn about “Starting out Right: 40 Developmental Assets” and how these assets relate to faith communities and families.
Sunday morning, Oct. 15, the tour will observe a session of Godly Play at Lake Harriett United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. Godly Play is a worship experience for preschoolers and young children developed by Jerome Berryman.
Sunday night participants observe the preschool and grade-school Bible study at Solomon's Porch, evaluating their approach to children's ministry and the effectiveness of that approach.
The tour returns to Richmond on Monday, Oct. 16.
Additional information (costs, motel information, travel, registration, etc.) is available at www.vbmb.org/emergingleaders. Other information is available from Carol Seeley at carol.seeley@vbmb.org.